Electrode type liquid heater



Feb. 20, 1951 .1. A. TATEM ET AL ELECTRODE TYPE LIQUID HEATER Filed May 17, 1949 Zoe/650715 aa/ufl. T 45%, fleo d 9/ /ZZy Patented Feb. 20, 1951 ELECTRODE TYPE LIQUID HEATER John A. Tatem and Alec Head, Dudley, England,

assignors of one-half to G. W. B. Electric Furnaces Limited, Dudley, England Application May 17, 1949, Serial No. 93,722 In Great Britain March 1, 1949 4 Claims.

This invention is concerned with electrode type boilers or other liquid heaters and is designed to provide improved adjustment or regulation thereof.

In boilers of this type the electrodes are commonly insulated and current passes between each of them and a neutral or counter-electrode.

In apparatus according to the present invention the rating is adjusted or regulated by varying the distance between electrodes and neutral or counter-electrodes, the arrangement being such that the effective area occupied by the lines of force between them is substantially unaffected by varying the distance.

Other parts of the invention are embodied in a typical form illustrated by the accompanying drawing showing by way of example a boiler adapted for a three-phase supply.

In the drawings- Fig. l is a sectional plan view,

Fig. 2 a sectional elevation on line AA of Fig. l, and

Fig. 3 a fragmentary section of a gland.

As illustrated, the phases are connected by terminals I and conductors 2 to metal electrodes 3 which take the form of suitably spaced horizontal discs. The electrode assemblies are mounted from the removable bottom plate 4 of the boiler 5 by means of porcelain insulators 6, I, 8 with insulating packing as required and nuts 9. Each electrode lies within an insulating shroud ID, the shrouds being carried on a tubular support It andextending to slightly above the tops of the electrodes to minimise any action between them. A central column l2 passes through the support II (which may itself be of insulating material) and through the centre of the electrode and shroud assembly and supports three neutrals I3 which are approximately equal in size to the electrodes and arranged exactly above the electrodes. This column I2 can be moved up and down through a metal gland I4 with suitable stuffing I?) (see Fig. 3) in the bottom plate 4, thus bringing the neutral and electrode closer together, or further away. An insulated guide shown as a slotted tube I6 engaged by a branch ll rigidly mounted on the neutral support and carried by the bottom plate or the electrode assembly or any other suitable means are provided to prevent the neutral assembly from turning and so to preserve the alignment. Thus, whatever the movement, upward or downward, each neutral I3 will always be opposite to an electrode 3. By moving this column I2 up and down and varying the distance, the rating is controlled and it will be noted that the neutral area reacting with an electrode remains substantially constant and does not become greater as the distance between neutral and electrode is increased.

Instead of, or in addition to, restricting the area and alignment of the neutrals an insulating shield may be used between the neutral and the electrodes and preferably carried by the neutral, three holes through the shield being of size equal to that of the electrodes and the alignment of the holes in the shield with the electrodes maintained. In this case a continuous plate may be used as a neutral and the distance between electrodes and neutral may, for example, be varied by a threaded engagement or by the use of a gland as already described, as will be readily understood without illustration.

We claim:

1. A boiler having a removable bottom closure member, electrically insulated electrodes supported by the said closure member, a neutral or counter-electrode assembly, means carried by the closure member and adapted to support the said assembly at adjustable heights above the said electrically insulated electrodes, and means to maintain each neutral or counter-electrode of the said assembly opposite to a corresponding one of the said electrically insulated electrodes at all adjustable heights.

2. A boiler having a removable bottom closure member, electrically insulated electrodes supported by the said closure member, a neutral or counter-electrode assembly, means carried by the closure member and adapted to support the said assembly at adjustable heights above the said electrically insulated electrodes, and means to maintain each neutral or counter-electrode of the said assembly opposite to a corresponding one of the said electrically insulated electrodes at all adjusted heights, the whole of the said parts being removable from the boiler by detaching and removing the said bottom closure member.

3. A boiler having electrically insulated electrodes supported from its bottom, a longitudinally adjustable rod passing through the bottom of the boiler and between the said electrodes, means to screen the said rod from the said electrodes, counter-electrodes carried by the said rod and means to maintain each counter-electrode directly over a corresponding one or the said insulated electrodes.

4. A boiler, as in claim 3, in which the said insulated electrodes and the said rod are carried by a removable bottom plate of the boiler.

The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Rauchfuss Feb. 17, 1925 Number 

